Currie Cup, Round Two - Teams and Predictions

PREVIEW: Following an action-packed opening round of the Currie Cup, some teams will look to get their first win whilst others will try and maintain their unbeaten start.

The action starts on Friday afternoon in Bloemfontein where the Cheetahs take on the Sharks at Toyota Stadium.

*Also read: ‘It’s probably threefold’: Vowles reveals Sharks’ Currie Cup approach

Both teams recorded narrow victories in Round One and will take confidence from the fight they’ve shown up until the final whistle.

Sharks head coach Mike Vowles is under no illusions about what he expects the Cheetahs will bring, and called for an improved performance from his side following their narrow escape over the Pumas.

“We’re looking at the Cheetahs as another opportunity to build a bit of momentum, find some cohesion as a group and measure ourselves against a really good team.

“They’re a settled team who have played a lot of rugby together; they have some experienced players in their group, and we anticipate a physical battle from them,” Vowles said.

“But having seen what our group can do, I have no doubt we’ll be able to match them physically.

“But our focus is on ourselves and on us improving, finding cohesion and building on one performance after another, understanding that this competition isn’t won in Round One or Two; you have to perform consistently to stay at the top.

“There’s a really positive and good culture amongst the group, from Tom [Thomas] Dyer and his leadership group; they’ve really guided this team well.”

Cheetahs head coach Frans Steyn warned that the Sharks’ youngsters look dangerous and challenged his team to bring the fight to secure a second successive victory.

“We need to back our systems and processes, but the Sharks’ youngsters are peaking. They’re a quality bunch of players. The talent they have is amazing,” Steyn said.

“We need to be on top of our game. This past weekend was evident that it’s the first round of the tournament, but we need to be better this week.

“We want to put in a proper and quality performance, and we want the stadium to be full by the end of the season.

“The only way to do that is to play proper, winning rugby.”

Veteran Cheetahs fullback Clayton Blommetjies, who will run out for his 150th match for the Bloemfontein-based side in all competitions, highlighted the importance of sticking to their structures against a youthful Sharks outfit.

“For us it’s about sticking to our job and executing the plan the coaches prepared us with.

“It’s not about thinking about the Sharks. Yes, they have several youngsters, but they will come out and be physical and run hard.

“We need to stick to our game plan and execute what we trained during the week on Friday evening.

“We’re looking forward to it. It will be close and fun. Both teams will throw the ball around as we saw in Round One.

“The Sharks also have a solid kicking game so for us it’s about preparing accordingly.”

There are two games on Saturday afternoon, starting with the Lions hosting the Pumas in Johannesburg, whilst Griquas and the Bulls will lock horns in Kimberley, with all four teams looking for their first win of the tournament.

Sunday sees the Western Cape derby between the Boland Kavaliers and the Stormers XXIII taking place in Wellington.

Continues below…

Stormers XXIII head coach Tom Dawson-Squibb claimed the underdog tag for his team but said they are embracing the challenge against a Boland side that is tough to beat at home.

“It’s an awesome challenge [to face Boland]. I said it last week, and I’ll say it this week again – we’re going into our second as underdogs.

“They defeated the Bulls and us in a friendly a few weeks ago on their home ground in front of a passionate fanbase. I think there will be some blue and white in the crowd, hopefully.

“We always see that as an opportunity to play in front of such a crowd instead of playing in front of five people where no one cares.

“It’s awesome that people care and I think that only raises the stakes for us. We know our backs are against the wall, and Boland are the favourites, but that’s pretty cool.”

Newly appointed captain Stefan Ungerer echoed Dawson-Squibb’s sentiments.

“I watched quite a few of Boland’s Currie Cup games last year, and it’s special to see what’s been brewing there.

“The club rugby in the Wellington and broader Boland area is also very big.

“The support they’ve been getting is testament to the type of rugby they’ve been playing and the results they’ve been getting.

“We are aware of the challenge we are up against on Sunday, but we also said that we’re focussing on ourselves. We know what we bring to the party.

“We’ve tried to put a couple of things in place to simulate those situations and that feeling, but it all goes back to what we bring and deliver on the field.”

*See all the teams and predictions below!

Friday, July 24

Cheetahs v Sharks

(Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off 17.00 SAST; 15.00 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Cheetahs by five points

Teams:

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Michael Annies, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Neels Volschenk (captain), 7 Juan Venter, 6 Ramon Uys, 5 Curtley Thomas, 4 Victor Sekekete, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Tielman Niewoudt.
Replacements: 16 Juan Smal, 17 Tebogo Nkosi, 18 Ben Pitoit, 19 Simon Muller, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Marco Janse van Vuren, 23 Henry Immelman

Sharks: 15 Chijindu Okonta, 14 Christie Grobbelaar, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Lyle Matthews, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Thomas Dyer (captain), 7 Danilo Botha, 6 Willem van den Hever, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Johan Momsen, 3 Simphiwe Ngobese, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 Bryce Calvert, 17 Jaco du Toit, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Sipho Nonyalela, 20 Hanu Pieterse, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Chris Horak, 23 Matthew Fortuin.

Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
Assistant referees: Dylen November, Sean Muller
TMO: Marius Jonker

Saturday, July 25

Lions v Pumas

(10Bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 15.00 SAST; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Pumas by three points

Teams:

Lions: 15 Latica Nela, 14 Keagan Smith, Likhona Finca, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Zian Cilliers, 8 Morne Venter, 7 Jarod Cairs, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 Ruan Delport (captain), 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Mahle Sithole, 1 Morgan Naude
Replacements: 16 Ruan Welman, 17 Cecil Parsons, 18 Ruan Swart, 19 Marco Ferreira, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Matthew Coetzee, 23 Exauce Kevani

Pumas: 15 Jaycee Nel, 14 Alfondso Isaacs, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Troy Delport, 11 Dalvron Blood, 10 Darnich Visagie, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Marvelous Mashimbyi, 7 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 6 De Wet Marais, 5 JJ Scheepers, 4 Stephan Krugel, 3 Junior Banda, 2 Chyle van Zyl, 1 Etienne Janeke
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Kudzwai Dube, 18 Bryan le Roux, 19 Andre Goedhals, 20 Thabo Ndimande, 21 Conor van Eeden, 22 Nevaldo Fleurs, 23 Velentino Wellman

Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Hernus Coetzee
TMO: Archie Moko

Griquas v Bulls

(Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley – Kick-off: 17.05 SAST; 15.05 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Griquas by 10 points.

Teams:

Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bestee, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg (captain), 4 Lungisi Mbiko, 3 IG Prinsloo, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 Leon Lyons
Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Carel van der Merwe, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Caleb Abrahams, 22 Sako Makata, 23 Connor Mahoney

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Hakeem Kunene, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 PA van Niekerk, 11 Riyaad Bam, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Brooklyn Newman, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Cephas van Biljon, 6 Nama Xaba (captain), 5 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Dian Coeztee, 2 Shaun Schürmann, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Jaundre Schoeman, 17 Damian Baker, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Abongile Nonkontwana, 20 Thomas Beling, 21 Neil Le Roux, 22 Viaan Mentoor, 23 JJ Motlhodi

Referee: Morne Ferreira
Assistant referees: Dylen November, Sean Muller
TMO: Marius Jonker

Sunday, July 26

Boland Kavaliers v Stormers XXIII

(Boland Stadium, Wellington – Kick-off: 15.00 SAST; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Boland by seven points.

Teams:

Boland: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Xavier Mitchell, 13 Lunathi Nxele, 12 Jurick Lewis, 11 Jayden Bantom, 10 Chris Smit, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Khwezi Mafu, 6 Gift Dlamini, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Jeandré Leonard, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Joshua Eras, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Heiko Pohlmann, 19 Johnré Stopforth, 20 Taine Booysen, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Ashlon Davids, 23 David Brits.

Stormers XXIII: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Gino Cupido, 13 Josh Boulle, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Mfundo Ndhlovu, 10 Dominic Malgas, 9 Stefan Ungerer (captain), 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Divan Fuller, 6 Keke Morabe, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Tom Barnard, 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Dylan de Leeuw, 21 Xola Nyali, 22 Tiaan Fourie, 23 Kian Davis

Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Juan de Bod, Zoe Naude
TMO: Egon Seconds